ARULMIGU VAITHIANATHASWAMY DEVASTHANAM REP BY ITS HEREDITARY TRUSTEE Vs. HINDU RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition is a third round of litigation between the priests and the employees on the one hand and Arulmigu Shri Vaithianathaswamy Devasthanam represented by its Hereditary Trustee on the other hand over the fixation of just salary payable. It is rather ironic that the priests who take the prayers from the public to the Lord almighty have come before the Court of law with their own prayers, although as party respondents this time.

(2.) Everything that exists in the world has got a history in it. A Temple with its deities is no exception. Arulmigu Shri Vaithianathaswamy Temple situated at Vaitheeswarankoil is built by the great Chola Kings of ancient times. It has been renovated over the years by the subsequent rulers of the tamil country. The Temple has Lord Shiva as a presiding deity. During the British rule and more particularly in the year 1842 the then Government had handed over the management of the Temple to the Pandarasannadhi of Dharmapuram Adheenam. As they were allowed to continue over the years through the administration of the Temple, the successive Adheenams were recognised as Hereditary Trustees. The Madathiapathy of Dharmapuram Adheenam has been recognised as Hereditary Trustee as per the scheme framed by this Court.

(3.) When an Executive Officer was appointed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, the same was put into challenge by the Dharmapuram Adheenam. Ultimately, the issue was concluded by the decision of the Honourable Apex Court in Sri La Sri Subramanya Desiga Gnanasambanda Pandarasannadhi vs. The State of Madras, 1965 2 MadLJ 167. The Honourable Apex Court while approving the scheme framed was pleased to observe as follows: